This day last year Meath hurling supporters left Croke Park in a happy mood after the Royals defeated Down in the Christy Ring Cup final. Hoganstand.com carried this match report.

Meath were crowned Christy Ring Cup champions for the second time in three years at Croke Park today courtesy of an impressive 10-point victory over Down.

Captain Seanie Geraghty got to lift the silverware after his team recorded a 4-19 to 2-15 win.

Goals from Adam Gannon (2) and substitutes Nicholas Potterton and Callum O’Sullivan laid the foundations for Nick Fitzgerald’s team’s success.

Throw-in was delayed by half an hour after the Lory Meagher Cup decider went to extra-time but the team in green and gold were quickest out of the traps and had 1-5 on the board before the Mourne County got off the mark through Danny Toner.

Gannon’s goal arrived in the 13th minute but Toner’s effort ignited the Down challenge and goals from Paul Sheehan (penalty) and Daithi Sands saw them trail by just 2-8 to 1-12 at the break.

Meath captain Sean Geraghty lifts the Christy Ring Cup. ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo.

Potterton was introduced as a half-time substitute for Barry Slevin and he made an instant impact when netting his team’s second goal inside two minutes of the resumption.

Gannon’s second goal parachuted the Royals into a 3-13 to 2-11 lead by the 44th minute and O’Sullivan – who replaced corner-forward Gannon in the 61st minute – applied the gloss to their performance with an injury-time goal.

Down’s cause wasn’t helped by the dismissal of half-back Mark Fisher for a straight red card offence with two minutes of normal time remaining.

Gannon (2-3) and Jack Regan (0-9) led the way for Meath in the scoring chart while Sheehan registered 1-8 for the Ulster outfit.

Meath - S McGann; G Murphy, D Kelly, S Whitty; S Brennan (0-1), K Keoghan, J Kelly; S Geraghty, C McCabe; D Healy (0-1), B Slevin (0-2), J Regan (0-9, 4f, 3'65); G McGowan, A Douglas (0-1), A Gannon (2-3). Subs: N Potterton (1-1) for B Slevin, J Keena (0-1) for G McGowan, S Morris for J Kelly, C O’Sullivan (1-0) for A Gannon, C O Mealoid for A Douglas.

Down - S Keith; T Murray, C Taggart, D Mallon; M Fisher (0-2), J McManus, M Conlan; P Savage, L Savage; D Toner (0-2), P Sheehan (1-8, 1-0pen, 0-6f, 0-1'65), T Prenter; D Sands (1-1), E Sands (0-1), O McManus (0-1). Subs: M Patterson for T Murray, C O’Prey for T Prenter, R Blair for O McManus, R McCusker for P Sheehan.

Referee - S Stack.

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